Igniter mechanism.



- E. G. WILCOX & B. L. LAWTON.

IGNI'I'ER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 16, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

B.f.Z/9W anus 11-1 064 a/vLM wooeo di C WP 001 r t E. G. WILOOX & B. L. LAWTON.

IGNITEE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.16, 1914.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

51 vwe nto It; Z5: 6'. P154001 Emit memes UNITED STATES TZAEENT OFFICE.

ERNEST C. WILCOX AND BURTON L. LAVVTON, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOBS TO THE'QCONNECTICUT TELEPHONE & ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC., OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

lemma MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ERNESTVC. WILCOX and BURTON L. LAWTON, citizens of the United States, residing at Meriden, vNew Havencounty, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Irr provements in Igniter Mechanism, of which the I following is a full, clear, and exact'descripand understood from a reading of the following description and examination of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1- 1s a vertical central section of .our improved device relatively enlarged.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a part of the device. Fig. 3 is a plan view of certain parts, certain other parts bein removed. Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the p ane of the line M.

l is the central arbor or shaft, the lower exposed end of which may be suitably constructed whereby it may be driven fronra suitable source of power to be rotated 111 proper time with the engine with which'the timer and distributer is to be associated. The upper part of the shaft is as shown, reduced in diameter, and especially constructed in the manner and for the purposes hereinafter described.

2 is the timer case or housing which is mounted upon a suitable bearing, in this instance a ball bearing, the balls of which are indicated at 3.

4'is the inner ring of the ball bearing which is mounted friction-tight on the shaft 1.

5 is a washer plate mounted on the shaft 1 below. the ball bearing sleeve 4, a suitable dust washer 6 of felt or other suitable material being supported by the washer 5.

Directly above the lower bearing just described, and upon the shaft 1, we provide one or more cams 77 (see Fig. 4) for operatingt-he timer element.

The timer is' located within the case or housing 2 and comprises the two contact points 8-9. The point 8 is carried upon an insulating block 10 in turn carried by the casing and in the preferred construction'the timer oint 8 is screw threaded into a block 11 so t at it may beadjusted.

' 12 is a suitable checking device, in this instance in the form of a nut, to facilitate holding the point 8 in its proper position of adjustment.

The side wall of the case 1 has an opening 13 through which a suitable instrument may be passed to turn the point 12 for adjustment, the outer end of the screw threaded body portion of the point in this instance being provided with a screw-driver slot. The block 11 is provided with a suitable binding post 14. The other point 9 of the timer is carried by a breaker arm which is of unique construction. This breaker arm is preferably formed of sheet metal and includes the two spacedside pieces 151 5 between which is located a roller 16 which is pivotally mounted to turn freely. The one end of the breaker arm is pivotally mounted upon the stud 17 carried by the case while the opposite end carries the point 9, the latter being riveted or otherwlse suitably secured thereto. In this instance, the breaker arm is formed of a strip of sheet metal of approximately C-shaped outline. This arm is bent in the middle to form the end plate 15 which carries the point 9, while the free ends of the breaker arm are mounted upon the post or stud 17 and held thereon by any suitable means such as a cotter pin.

18 is a spring, which in the form shown, is of the outline of a shepherds crook, the crooked end extends around the end of the breaker arm mounted on the stud 17, the short end of the arm being caught under an abutment 19, located between the upper and lower plates 15-15. The long end of the spring 18 is supported by the inner wall of the case 1 and in the preferred form bears against a metallic conductor strip 20 which is electrically connected with the binding post '21.'

22 is a slotted opening in the side wall of the case 1 so lined up with the ends of the contact points 8 and 9 that a small file may tween the ends of the points 8 and 9 so that said points may be smoothed 05 or brightened up.

23 is a ring which is carried by the case and'which has a slot to afford clearance for the base of the binding post 1 l-2l, the length oi said slot permitting the said ring 23 to be turned so as to cover and uncover the openings 1322. The ring 23 may be mounted in any suitable manner so that it may be held against dislodgment, "for example, it may simply have a frictiontight fit.

2% is a handle by which the ring 28 may be easily turned.

The upper part of the case l is provided with a cover 25 which cover carries a suitable bearing 26, for example, a ball bearing of the annular ring type. The outer ring of the bearing is preferably forced into tight contact with the cover 25, while the inner ring of said hearing l e slid on and oh that part of the shaft adjacent thereto 27 is a window in the upper part oi the cover 25 which is preferably provided a transparent covering and through which the contact points 8 9 may be observe 28 is a stud on the m i end of the case 2, the cover 25 having a sui .le opening through which the stud 28 may pass so that in putting'the cover in place the window 27 will always be positioned properly for the inspection or" the contact points. This stud 28 is of suiiicient length to project well above the cover 25 so that it may be used to set the distributor case, hereinafter explained, in its proper-position.

"9 is a. dust washer standing above the ball bearing 26, while on top the dust washer 29 is a spring washer 30 comprising a plurality of radial arrns projecting from two-spaced hub portions as shown, said spring washer being compressed and held down by a cotter pin or other suitable fastoning 31.

The shaft 1 is provi led wi' nal bore 32 extending to down to point adjacent to hearing. The lower end of this bore is pro- 3 to-convey oil to the lower bearing, the oil being introduced through the upper end of the shaft 1 when the distributor parts are removed, as hereinafter deseribed.- To prevent oil from running through the cotter pin passage in shaft 1, we provide a tubular bushing 3%, The upper end of the shaft is preferably slabbed off on one side as shown, so as to receive and hold against rotation a head block 35 which carries the distributor brush '36, the latter being preferably formed of a block of carbon forced radially by a spring 37; This distributor brush is in electrical contact through the medium of a spring 38 such a time it wi l he observed nuaeeo with a terminal piece 39 which represents one terminal end of the secondary or high tension circuit of the distributor. l0 represents a terminal piece for the other end of the secondary circuit. In this particular instance, the distributer is provided with four terminal pieces corresponding in numher to the number or" earns 7 on the shaft 1, two of said terminal pieces 40 being actually shown.

ll represents the distributer casing which is, as usual, formed ot'molded insulating material in which the'terminal pieces 39-'-l0 are fixed for assembling by being cast therein. This casing 41 is held snugly upon the cover 23 of the timer case 2 by an suitable mechanism, but our improved holding clip shown in Fig. 2 is by preference provided. This holding clip comprises a spring arm secured any suitable way as by a screw as it to the casing On the periphery of the timer case 2 is a button la. The arm is provided with a slot d5 of sufficient size to clear the of the hut on the lower edge e slot snapping under the button head when the spring arrn is forced down so as to hold the parts proper position. roars the a gitudinally yield g, we pro" fi p shaped bend to 1 erznediate e length or said spring By this simple expedient the lower slotted end the yiel sufliciently to snap around the but-to The arm is preferably hinged The head bloclr of the distributor is i preferably formed of insulat ng cast to the proper shape, and having a c tral longitudinal passage conform" irregular upper end of the she which it is mounted, so that tributer block can sh in one angular position, to the co position.

is an case casing be so tard ,ae spark, the sp wit the operation i l separate the points 8 and 9 w -icn no; "111 are in contact and are separated meme; rily when one of to the o1 ing position indicated in several tributer brush is contact another of the second ry terrains so the high tension current r such time will flow ough the o1 circuit.

in our improved construction, preLV-rably form the spring" 18 of two as shown, one strip being steel and the other of bronze, the bronze being located on the outside to guarantee efiectlve electrical stributer nection with the strip 20. A steel strip is rounding wall of the metal timer case 2 by any-suitable means, for example, by a liner or spacer 49. v v

The brush 36 is preferably mounted directly in a tube 50 of brass or bronze, for example, said tube being cast into head 35, the spring 38 being riveted I or otherwise suitably connected with said tube.

\Vhat I'claim is:

1. In a timer and distributer, a shaft having a cam thereon, a case mounted upon said shaft, said parts being relatively rotatable, two contacts held within said case, said contacts being normally in engagement, with means for intermittently separating said contacts operated byv said cam, and an opening in the side of said caselaterally of the ends of said contact points to permit a tool to be inserted between said points.

2. In a timer and distributer, a shaft having a cam thereon, a case mounted upon said shaft, said parts being relatively rotatable, two contacts held within said case, said contacts being normally in engagement, with means for intermittently separating said contacts operated by said cam, and an opening in the side of said caselaterally of the ends of said contact points to permit a tool to be inserted between said points, and another opening arranged in line with said points.

3. In a timer and distributer, a shaft having a cam thereon, a case mounted upon said shaft, said parts being relatively rotatable, two contactsheld within said case, said contacts being normally in engagement, with means for intermittently separating said contacts operated by said cam, and an opening in the side of said case laterally of the ends of said contact points to permit a tool to be inserted between said points, and a cover for said opening mounted on said case.

4. In a device of the character described,

a shaft, a cam thereon, two contact points,

one fixed and the other movable, an arm carrying said movable contact point, said arm comprising two spaced plates connected at one end, a pivot mounting for the other end of said arm, an anti-friction bearing between said arms arranged for engagement by said cam to move said movable oint.

5. In a device of the character escribed, a shaft, a cam thereon, two contact points, one fixed and the other movable, an arm carrying said movable contact point, said arm comprising two spaced plates connected at one end, a pivot mounting for the other end of said arm, an anti-friction hearing between said arms arranged for engagement by said cam to move said movable point, and a spring normally operating to move said arm in a direction to move the movable point into contact with the stationary point.

6. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a cam thereon, two contact points, one fixed and the other 'movable, an arm carrying said movable contact point, said arm comprising two spaced plates connected at one end, a pivot mounting for the other end of said arm, an anti-friction bearing between said arms arranged for engagement by said cam to move said movable point and a spring normally operating to move said arm in a direction to move the movable point into contact with the stationary point, said spring comprising two blades, one blade being of spring metal and the other being of a substantially non-corrosive metal of relativ'ely high electrical conductivity.

7. In a device of the character described, a timer case, a shaft, a bearing on said shaft, the lower part of said case resting on said bearing, contact points arranged within the case with means for electrically connecting said points respectively with circuit terminals, a movable carrier for one of said points, a cam on the shaft for actuating said movable carrier for making and breaking a circuit through said points, a removable cover plate for the upper end of said case, said cover-plate having an opening therein to facilitate inspection of said points, means for locating the cover in a position to cause said opening to always overlie said points, a distributer housing mounted on said cover, said cover having a center perforation providing a bearing for the upper part of said shaft, a distributer terminal mounted in said distributer housing, and another distributer terminal mounted on the upper end of said shaft with means for preventing said distributer terminal from being placed thereon excepting at one angular position relatively thereto.

8. In a device of the character described, atimer case, a shaft, a bearing on said shaft, the lower part of said case resting on said bearing, contact points arranged within the case with means for electrically connecting said points respectively with circuit terminals, a movable carrier for one of said points, a cam on the shaft for actuating said movable carrier for making and breaking a circuit through said point, a removable cover plate for the upper end of said case, said cover-plate having'an opening therein to facilitate inspection of said points, means for locating the cover in a position to cause said opening to always overlie said points, a distributer housing mounted on said cover, said cover having a center perforation providing a bearing for the upper part of said shaft, a distributer terminal mounted in said by a cotter pin passing through &

distributer housing, and another terminal mounted on the upper end of said shaft with from the upper end downwardly to a point near said bearing, an oil outlet passage from said bore leading to said bearing.

10. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a timer mounted thereon for rotation and having a bearing in the lower part of the case, a bore in the shaft extending from the upper end downwardly to a point near said bearing, a lateral oil passage from said bore leading to said bearing, the upper part of said case comprising a removable cover having a central bearing on said shaft, said cover being adapted to be held in place the shaft above said cover plate, a bushing, said shaft having a transverse passage for a cotter pin, said passage being bushed.

11. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a cam thereon, two contact points, one of said points being movable relatively to the other, a curved arm carrying said 1,11 aseo movable contact point at one end, a shaft mounting for theother end of said arm, an anti-friction bearing between the ends of said arm for engagement by said cam, and a carrier case for said contact elements and said arm, said cam passing freely through said carrier case whereby said case and associated parts may be removed from the cam by longitudinal movement of the former relatively to the latter.

12. In a device of the character described, a timer casing, a shaft, a bearing on said shaft, the lower part of said case resting on said bearing, contact points arranged within the case with means for electrically connecting said points respectively with circuit terminals, a movable carrier arm for one of said points, a cam on the shaft for actuating said movable arm for making and breaking a circuit through said points, a removable cover plate for the upper end of said casing, a distributer housing mounted on said cover plate, the latter having a central perforation providing a bearing for the upper part of said shaft, a distributer terminal mounted in the distributer housing, another distributer terminal mounted on the upper end of the shaft with means for holding said distributer terminal thereon at the desired angle.

ERNEST C. W'ILCOX BURTON L. LAWTON.

Witnesses:

G. H. Dur'roN, A. B. COSMAN, 

